Casual UK
- What's on your Christmas list?
My in-laws are at me again for what I want for Christmas. They're very big on gifts. I mostly want some new joy cons for my Switch because mine have surrendered to stick drift. I can't believe they don't sell plain black ones any more.
Anyway, if you're blessed with relatives like mine it's time to start writing your list to Father Christmas even though you're in your thirties and own your own home.
What are you after?
- Help requested: I am emigrating to the UK by the end of January. I am a legal citizen. I could really use help lining up a job before I get there. More info inside. (I hope this is okay, mods.)
I am emigrating from the U.S. because my daughter is queer and I don't think she is safe under Trump. She won't be totally safe in the UK either, I understand that, but it's as safe as I can get her right now.
As I said, I can legally work in the UK. I have citizenship through my father. I am applying right and left, but any additional help would be really wonderful. I've been going to some recommended sites- Indeed, Glassdoor, Guardian Jobs and the UK government's job websites, but I am hoping someone here might also have connections because I really don't want to deplete our savings and whatever we get from selling things like my car while I look for work.
I have spent most of my professional life in the video and audio production industries. I had my own small post-production studio in Los Angeles for 10 years. I have worked as a video editor, audio editor and sound designer for multiple prestigious clients and also for some low-budget film companies.
I also have experience as a news videographer, I've done a lot of TV and radio advertising work, and I have an impressive list of people I've done voice over work for (I specialize in characters and accents).
On top of that, although this is not on my CV because it generally doesn't lead to work, I have 15 years' experience doing standup comedy and comedy writing. I never got famous, but I almost got to be a part of a reboot of National Lampoon Magazine which ended up never happening, so that was cool.
Anyway, if anyone here can help me out, I will happily send you my CV. Obviously, I'm not going to doxx myself and put it here on Lemmy, but if you send me a PM with an email address, I can send it there.
Thanks.
- Let them eat fakes: France turns to own brand variety as Cadbury Fingers vanishwww.theguardian.com Let them eat fakes: France turns to own brand variety as Cadbury Fingers vanish
Disappearance of chocolate-covered treats from shelves prompts anger as well as an outpouring of nostalgia
A low point for British-French relations.
- Chester Zoo: Giant spiders released by zoo have record mating seasonwww.bbc.co.uk Chester Zoo: Giant spiders released by zoo have record mating season - BBC News
Thousands of spiders were released into the wild after a breeding programme at Chester Zoo.
Just in case anyone wanted an update on the preservation efforts of the giant spiders....
- 'We put gravy in beer cans to boost sales'www.bbc.co.uk 'We put gravy in beer cans to boost sales'
"Chaos packaging" helps a Swindon-based food manufacturer expand to supermarket shelves.
- What to do??
Ok, never done this before, and being a bloke, struggle to ask for help. I guess I'm hoping for some advice and to just get it off my chest. I've created a new account for this, for which it will shortly become obvious why.
I've got myself addicted to cocaine.
There, said it.
About a year ago, I went on a Stag with some relatively new friends. That was when I bought coke for the first time. I've used very occasionally in the past, but never actually bought any for myself. There was no pressure, I guess I just wanted to have fun and boost my confidence with new friends and some people I'd not met.
A month or so later, I had another night out and thought it'd be fun to buy some more. Then I bought more... And more... And more.
I'm now buying pretty much weekly and keep telling myself that this will be the last lot. Obviously, it never is! I'm now just doing it at home, not even when going out anymore.
Life should be good, I've got a great wife, 2 lovely kids, a nice house and a stable job. It just feels like something, I don't know, is missing? I feel like I should be happy, but for some reason I'm actually not. I'm approaching mid 40s, so I guess it could be a mid life crisis!
Luckily I earn fairly well, so I've not got myself in any real money issues yet, but I need to stop. My wife doesn't know, but I am not being a good husband at the moment. My family is everything to me, and I worry I will if I tell my wife.
Wtf to do?!
- What is, and what isn't Britain ? Be Distinctive Britain reportbedistinctivebritain.jkrglobal.com Be Distinctive Britain
A deep dive report into the equity of Brand Britain, the attractiveness of Britain as a place to do business - and the impact of Brand Britain on brands.
> A report that dives into the good, the bad, and the distinctiveness of Brand Britain. After five changes of brand leader in eight years, not to mention all the events in between, how's the brand looking? Does ‘Britishness’ still have that distinctive edge? And, what’s the impact, if any, that Brand Britain has on British brands? > > Expert information, insight and analysis brought to you by British Chamber of Commerce x Ipsos x JKR.
- What does your ideal Sunday look like?
For me it would be where the sun is shining, the house is tidy and there's no chores to do.
Start off with a decent breakfast and a decent mug of coffee. I'd have had my run the previous day so can rest a bit. Maybe head out for a walk, grab some lunch at the local garden centre. I've just redownloaded the game Ingress after not playing it for years, so maybe play that for a couple of hours.
Get home and watch the F1 while I prepare and cook a lasagne in the afternoon. Smash said lasagne with a glass or two of a nice red wine and then spend the evening playing Minecraft for a few hours, then an hour or two of reading before bed.
The reality though is far different as I have two young kids!
- I just learned the jam in Jammie Dodgers isn't raspberry or strawberry, and i'd never have guessed the real fruit
> We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how Jammie Dodgers got their name as well as what their signature heart cutouts mean. > >But as surprising as those facts were, I was even more astonished to learn that Jammie Dodgers ― even the ’Original Raspberry’ kinds ― do not use jam made from raspberries. > > Those listed on Burton’s site (Burton produces the biscuits) says that it uses a “raspberry-flavoured” version of another fruit’s jam. > >Even their cherry and cola-flavoured versions use the same unexpected base. > > ... > > According to Burton’s site, the original raspberry brand contains 27% “raspberry flavoured apple jam.”
- 'Why my pub sells 70 different flavours of crisps'www.bbc.com International Crisp Festival brings 70 flavours to Huddersfield
The man behind the idea says it started as a "silly idea" and just grew from there.
The salted egg yolk flavour does sound pretty good.
- Am I being dense?
But do the categories (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral) just make no sense against the possibile answers?
The instructions for the game are at the top. A player picks a word from a card and the other player has to guess the word they've picked, starting by asking if it's an animal, vegetable or mineral.
- Should we reintroduce wild wolves to the British Isles
What do you think? It would essentially help to keep the fox population under control and add a bit of excitement to our hiking and biking trails.
- I'm all for conservation, but I really have mixed feelings on this one
The Fen Raft Spider is roughly the size of an adult male’s hand, and can spin webs as big as pizzas (25cm).
They are also semi-aquatic and can run across the water’s surface to capture their prey.
- Perhaps the ultimate collection of fake photoswww.bbc.co.uk In pictures: Kate's video offers glimpse of royal life in Norfolk
The video message from the Princess of Wales gives us a glimpse of the Wales' home life in Norfolk.
“Oh William, you are so funny!” “Darling, do have another piece of cheese.” “Don’t lick the fucking camera lens.”
How can anybody be so far up their arse to think it’s a good idea to push this nonsense out.
- Perfectly cromulent
Having seen it crop up few times within various posts, I looked up the word ‘cromulent’. Merriam-Webster gave a cromulent answer, except for this bit that doesn’t travel so well to this side of the Atlantic.
- Canterbury: Crackdown on motorists who park illegally in Kentwww.bbc.co.uk Canterbury: Crackdown on motorists who park illegally in Kent
Penalty charge notices (PCNs) were issued to people who parked illegally in Canterbury.
- Are there any magazines in the UK worth reading?
It's been ages since I've sat down and read a magazine. But there are times when I don't have the motivation to read a book and I just want a quick, well-written article to enjoy.
To give an example of the sort of content, someone shared this interesting article on Lemmy the other day about the ways in which far right tech CEOs mimic AIs being trained on their own data. It was a really fascinating idea!
I'm not too fussy about the content - science, technology, gaming, nature, opinion pieces, politics (but not too heavy).
For the longest time I used to get the National Geographic, which always had good content. But I feel a bit burnt out with those. Something along these lines on another topic would be perfect.
Can anyone recommend any particular magazines?
- Terry’s Chocolate Orange launch new flavour but fans are divided
> Terry’s Chocolate Orange have tried to switch things up by bringing out a new flavour of their iconic citrus-shaped snack, but a lot of fans aren’t having any of it. > > ... > > Its quality and deliciousness has remained tried and trusted throughout the years, but that hasn’t stopped Carambarco – the manufacturer behind the brand – from experimenting with different flavours and concepts. > > ... > > Then, in 2023, Terry’s went beyond the original orange flavour for the first time ever, bringing out the Terry’s Chocolate Mint ball. > > ... > > This week, however, shoppers have been left outraged after a new variation appeared in B&M stores across the country. > >Introducing the Terry’s ‘Chocolate Milk’ without the orange. > > Naturally, fans of the cult classic treat were outraged – and many were left wondering whether there was any point in it without the key ingredient.
- Banksy: London Zoo removes gorilla artwork for 'safekeeping' - BBC Newswww.bbc.co.uk Banksy: London Zoo removes gorilla artwork for 'safekeeping'
A nearby sign at the zoo now reads "Banksy woz ere" and offers an apology to disappointed fans.
- Is there a new term for chav?
I just heard of a Non Educated Delinquent (NED) but that's Scottish
- We have Greggs at home...
And it is delicious.
After the nearest outlet shut its doors, and facing a walk of almost 800m (!) to the next closest, I decided to try Aldi's not-greggs-but-basically-is.
And honestly...They're not half bad. We tried the rolls, chicken, and steak bakes. They're about 1/4 of the price. And live in the freezer. Ideal.
This post was not supported or sponsored by Aldi. No free snacks for this albatross.
- So, how was your weekend?
I had a great night on Saturday, celebrating a friend's 50th birthday, we stayed over too, so no fighting over who gets to drink!
- Ah well..
Anyone devastated? probably not, I much prefer piccalilli anyway.
- Adam Britton: British croc expert jailed for sexual abuse of dogs - BBC Newswww.bbc.co.uk Adam Britton: British croc expert jailed for sexual abuse of dogs
Adam Britton pleaded guilty to 60 charges, which also included four counts of accessing child abuse material.
Obviously this is fucked. But the idea of a British crocodile expert was so foreign to me that I clicked this to see what hype beast it was because I assumed it was about a footwear expert 😭
- The bloody cockwomble
On the way to work, i need to cross the road, so i use the zebra crossing, traffic slows down, i begin to cross, but a cyclist decides he's overtaking the traffic which has now stopped, missing me by about a foot, im actually a bit dumbfounded, obviously i called him a cockwomble, and some other choice words, but seriously, some people infuriate me beyond belief!!
- What little things have annoyed you this morning?
I work in a team of 5, 3 have rang in sick.
I can see my patience wearing thin today!
- What's your little win for this weekend?
I have just found £160 in an old wallet that ive not used for 6 months.
Although it's not really a win, the wife said we can use it to pay for paint and decorate the living room.
Note to self, don't be so open when finding spare cash!
- [Meta] If you are looking for casual conversation, feel free to consider !casualconversation@lemm.ee as well
Not UK centric, but more active than here, so joining both might be interesting
- As an ex Redditor..
..what are some of the things i can expect from this place?
I have become very tiresome with how those mods seems to be on some sort of power trip.
- John Anderson: Former Gladiators referee dies aged 92www.bbc.co.uk John Anderson: Former Gladiators referee dies aged 92
The Scottish sports coach appeared in the show's original ITV run from1992 to 2000 and in its 2008 Sky revamp.
His voice is still burned into my brain even now all these years later. Good childhood memories.